Notable owners in sports

/

George Steinbrenner

New York Yankees

Known simply as "The Boss," Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in 1973 for $10 million. During his ownership, the Yankees won seven World Series titles and became the league's most successful and prominent franchise.

Steinbrenner was perhaps most famous for his public persona, as he would often call out players or coaches he felt were underperforming. In his first 23 years with the team, Steinbrenner changed managers 20 times, including firing Billy Martin on five separate occasions.

Mark Cuban

Dallas Mavericks

The billionaire entrepreneur bought the Mavericks in 2000 for $285 million. While most NBA owners watch the game passively from their luxury box, Cuban routinely sits courtside wearing Mavericks shirts and jerseys.

Cuban is also famous for his outspoken nature. He has been fined by the NBA more than 13 times, usually for criticizing opposing players or officials. Most notably, he was fined $250,000 for repeated criticism of officiating during the 2006 NBA Finals, which the Mavericks lost to Miami.

Jerry Jones

Dallas Cowboys

After making his money in oil, Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989. One of his first moves was to fire coaching legend Tom Landry, who had coached the Cowboys since their inception in 1960. Jones replaced Landry with Jimmy Johnson, a teammate of his when he played at Arkansas. The Cowboys won Super Bowls in 1992, 1993 and 1995 and became known as "America's Team."

Jones is one of only three NFL owners who also act as the team's general manager. He is always a public figure at Cowboys games, usually watching from the sideline.

Al Davis

Oakland Raiders

Davis started his career coaching the Raiders from 1963 to 1965. In 1966, he was named AFL Commissioner, a position he held for just three months. Davis returned to the Raiders that year as a part-owner and became the principal owner in 1972. Under his watch, the Raiders won three Super Bowl titles in 1976, 1980 and 1983.

Always known for being a very hands-on owner, Davis is one of just three NFL owners who also acts as the team's general manager. Since 2004, Davis has tried a series of big coaching hires including Art Shell, Lane Kiffin and Tom Cable. The Raiders, however, continue to struggle.

Dan Gilbert

Cleveland Cavaliers

Gilbert made his fortune founding Rock Financial, and in 2002, he purchased Quicken Loans, Inc. He purchased the Cavaliers in 2005 and attempted to build a successful team around young superstar LeBron James.

After James announced in July, 2010 that he would sign with the Miami Heat as a free agent, Gilbert posted an open letter to Cavaliers fans on the team's website. In a vitriolic tirade against his former superstar, Gilbert called James "narcissistic" and "cowardly." He also personally guaranteed that the Cavaliers would win an NBA title before James did in Miami.

Mikhail Prokhorov

New Jersey Nets

During the collapse of the Soviet Union, Prokhorov took advantage of the privatization of state-owned businesses. He made his fortune in mining and is worth more than $13 billion. Prokhorov purchased the Nets in May, 2010.

Shortly after purchasing the Nets, Prokhorov did an exclusive interview with 60 Minutes. In the interview, he took the camera crew to a Moscow night club, showed off his gun collection and admitted that he had no idea where his 200-foot yacht actually was.

Dan Snyder

Washington Redskins

In 1996 Snyder became the youngest ever CEO of a New York Stock Exchange listed company at the age of 32. In 1998, Snyder purchased the Redskins for $800 million.

Under Snyder's watch, the Redskins have flourished financially. Over his first 10 years, they were the second-highest grossing team in the NFL, behind only the Dallas Cowboys. On the field, though, they have struggled, winning only one division title and two playoff games during Snyder's reign.

Roman Abramovich

Chelsea F.C.

Abramovich took advantage of the sale of state-owned business at the fall of the Soviet Union and made his fortune in oil. In June, 2003, he bought Chelsea Football Club in London. He went on a spending spree in an attempt to make Chelsea a worldwide brand. He brought in Portuguese manager Jos Mourinho and spent over $150 million on new players. Chelsea won league championships in 2005 and 2006 and has become one of the most popular soccer teams in the world under his watch.

Abramovich is also notable for his interest in yachts. He currently owns five luxury yachts over 150 feet, including Eclipse, a 560-foot boat worth a reported $1.2 billion.

Gavin and Joe Maloof

Sacramento Kings

The Maloof family bought the Fiesta Hotel in Las Vegas for $8 million in 1994 and sold it for over $185 million in 2000. Using the profit, they opened the Palms Resort and Casino.

The family bought a controlling interest in the Kings in 1999, with Gavin and Joe controlling the team's operations. The brothers have also been visible in the entertainment world, appearing in music videos with Lil' Wayne, Ludacris and Katy Perry.

Michael Jordan

Charlotte Bobcats

As one of the greatest players in NBA history, there's no question that Michael Jordan knows basketball. In 2006, Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats. In March, 2010, Jordan becamse the first former player to assume majority ownership of an NBA franchise.

Jordan's ascension to majority shareholder in 2010 coincided with the Bobcats' first playoff appearance. They were swept in the first round by the Orlando Magic.

Ted Turner

Atlanta BravesAtlanta Hawks

In 1976, Turner bought the Braves and Hawks to provide programming for his cable television network, WTBS. During his first ten years with the Braves, he was known as a very hands-on owner, and even tried managing the team for a game. Because of their presence on TBS, the Braves were able to garner a national following in the 1980's and 90's.

Turner and Time Warner, which purchased TBS in 1996, sold the team in 2007. Turner had sold the Hawks in 2004.

Marge Schott

Cincinnati Reds

Schott purchased a minority interest in the Reds in 1981. Three years later, she became the first woman to buy a controlling stake in a Major League Baseball team when she bought a majority interest in the Reds for $11 million.

Throughout her tenure, she sought to keep the Reds family-friendly. Prices stayed low, and Schott regularly sat in regular box seats. She was also, however, notable for her numerous racist and anti-semetic remarks. With her health beginning to fail, she sold her interest in the team in 1999.

Jon Bon Jovi

Philadelphia Soul

Along with Craig Spencer and Sean Hannan, Bon Jovi founded the Soul as an Arena Football League expansion franchise in 2004. In 2008, the Soul won Arenabowl XXII, their first Arena League championship.

The AFL folded in 2009, but will return in a new incarnation in 2011. The Soul will continue playing in the new AFL, but Bon Jovi, citing his band's tour schedule, will not be a member of their ownership group.

Bill Veeck

Veeck was most famous (or infamous) for his outlandish promotional ideas. With the Browns in 1951, Veeck hired midget Eddie Gaedel for one at-bat (he walked).

During his tenure with the White Sox, Veeck was famous for the exploding scoreboard he installed in center field. Perhaps his most notorious idea, however, came in 1979 with the "Disco Demolition Night" promotion. Fans were encouraged to bring their old disco records for a pre-game bonfire, but a riot ensued and the White Sox had to forfeit the game.

James Dolan

New York KnicksNew York Rangers

As Chairman of Madison Sqaure Garden, Dolan assumed operations responsibilities of the Knicks and Rangers in 1999. Since then, the Rangers have failed to become a championship contender, despite regularly having one of the NHL's highest payrolls.

The Knicks have been even more abysmal under Dolan's watch. Dolan made numerous questionable management decisions, including the hiring and retainment of general manager Isiah Thomas. Dolan was also named as a defendant in a sexual harassment suit against Madison Square Garden.

Gene Autry

Autry gained fame as a "The Singing Cowboy" in radio, movies and television. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

When Los Angeles was granted an expansion franchise in 1960, Autry expressed an interest in controlling the team's radio broadcasts. Baseball executives were so impressed with his presentation though, that they convinced him to own the team. He sold his majority interest in 1995, but remained a minority owner of the Angels until his death in 1998.